South Africa wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been cleared to play in the final Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Hamilton, despite suffering tendon damage in his right index finger.
Du Plessis received the go ahead after passing a fitness test to determine whether the tendon damage on his right index finger was severe enough to sideline him.
The 24-year-old, however, would require another four to six weeks of time to recover completely and, therefore, he might miss the upcoming tenth edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in order to make himself available for the Champions Trophy and the England Tests that follows.
When quizzed as to why South Africa had risked de Kock when they have a reserve wicket-keeper in Heinrich Klaasen, skipper Faf du Plessis insisted that the game in Hamilton is a big one and, therefore, they could not take risk by dropping him.
"It's a big game. Quinton is someone who you don't just replace. From my side, I am trying to have Quinton in my team all the time.He has had problems with his fingers for quite a while. It's part of being a keeper. It's never nice to catch balls on the fingertips all the time and it's been painful for him for a while. Maybe the cold New Zealand conditions make it worse. It's hurting for him a bit more now but because it's a big game, resting him for someone else is not an option," ESPNcricinfo quoted du Pelssis as saying.
New Zealand, on the other hand, have been dealing with injury crisis, with Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Ross Taylor all being ruled out of the series-deciding match due to their respective injuries.
South Africa , who are leading the three-match Test series 1-0, will play their final match against New Zealand from tomorrow at Seddon Park.
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